Palestinian prisoners’ issue discussed at the European Parliament

BRUSSELS, (PIC)– UFree Network to defend the rights of Palestinian prisoners raised the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails on the sidelines of a meeting held at the European Parliament in Brussels on Nakba anniversary, in coordination with Council for European Palestinian Relations.

Mr. Mohammed Hamdan, head of UFree Network, told Quds Press that the meeting is the first of its kind, as it is the first time in which the European Parliament discusses the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) and its repercussion on the Palestinian people.

Hamdan said that the session discussed at first the European Parliament delegation’s visit to the Palestinian occupied territories.

For his part, Dr. Arafat Madi, the Director of the Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR), stressed the need to end the Palestinian refugees’ suffering by reinforcing the right of return of millions of Palestinians who were forcibly deported from their homes.

Dr. Salman Abu Sitta, chair of Palestine Land Foundation, dealt with the Israeli massacres and ethnic cleaning against the Palestinian people since the Nakba. He asserted that no peace talks can be held without achieving the right of return.

Israel has arrested since 1967 around 800,000 Palestinians, including 12,000 women and tens of thousands of children.

Around 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 14 women and nearly 230 children are currently held in Israeli jails.

Mohammed Hamdan also announced the launch of an international solidarity campaign, for the release of Palestinian prisoner Dirar Abu Sisi, kidnapped from the Ukraine on 18 February 2011 and who was secretly taken to the Israeli occupation jails to be held in solitary confinement.

ON TORTURE

Report: Published by Adalah, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel and Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights | June 26, 2012

“On Torture” is an edited volume of essays by Palestinian, Israeli and international legal and medical experts and practitioners based on presentations that they gave during a workshop held in Jerusalem in April 2011 entitled, “Securing Accountability for Torture and Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment (CIDT) in Israel: New Trends and Comparative Lessons”.

The essayists explore the history of torture in Israel, the daily challenges that practitioners face in seeking accountability for torture and CIDT in Israel, and the changing face of torture.